A convicted rapist was jailed for three years yesterday for drug trafficking after boasting he had “the best crack cocaine in town”.
Harpal Singh Sehra, 37, was found with messages on his phone showing that he was supplying cocaine and heroin to users and providing drugs to other dealers working for him.
A judge told Sehra at the High Court in Edinburgh that although the weight and volume of drugs recovered in his case indicated dealing at a relatively low level, other evidence suggested he was using sub-dealers.
Lady Scott told him he would have faced a four and a half year jail sentence but for his guilty pleas.
Sehra, formerly of Abbotsford Road, Lochgelly, admitted being concerned in the supply of cocaine and heroin on various occasions between August 19 last year and June 2 this year.
Advocate depute Derick Nelson said a phone seized from Sehra was examined and messages were found indicating that he was involved in the supply of drugs.
The prosecutor said: “The messages indicated the accused was sourcing drugs from Dundee then supplying other users directly and supplying other dealers who were working for him.”
Sehra had offered crack cocaine – which he said was high quality – for sale at £125 a gram.
Mr Nelson said: “On May 3 this year the accused sent the same message to contacts stating he had the best crack cocaine in town, offering 0.2 of a gram for £25 and £125 for a gram.”
“On May 16, 22 and 27, the accused sent the same message a total of 93 times to contacts indicating he had crack cocaine available.
“On May 26 the accused sent the same message 27 times to contacts advertising heroin for sale,” said the prosecutor.
Sehra was later interviewed by police and claimed he did not know why he had been arrested.
Police had searched a flat in Barrie Street, Methil, in September last year after receiving information and found crack cocaine worth up to £12,000 on the streets, along with £4,000 of heroin and £750 of cocaine.
They also discovered more than a thousand codeine tablets which can be used as a bulking agent when drugs are cut for sale.
Mr Nelson said a woman associate of Sehra had rented the flat the previous month, claiming it was for her boyfriend and paid £480 in cash.
Sehra gave her the rent money and was regularly seen visiting the property. His DNA was found in an extractor fan fitting where the drugs were concealed.
On June 2 this year police received information that Sehra was in possession of drugs in a car in the Glenrothes area and the vehicle was traced to the town’s Alexander Road.
Officers found a Kinder egg containing £675 worth of heroin and a small amount of cocaine.
A search was carried out at his home address and a tick list and £350 in cash were found.
Sehra was previously jailed for four years for rape and for three years in 2015 after he was convicted of heroin trafficking.
Defence solicitor advocate Gordon Martin said that Sehra did not want to become involved in drug dealing but came under pressure following a couple of incidents.
Mr Martin said: “It is his intention to move away from the area on his release.”
